Steering mechanism for mobile machinery



J ne 7 1927. v 7 1,631,183

u R. I. ALEXANDER ET AL smmue MECHANISM FOR mam umcm'nm Original Filed Nov. 24. 1 24 2 Sheets-Shut 1 R. I. ALEXANDER ET AL STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOBILE MACHINERY Original Filed Nov. 24. 1924 2 Shects-Sheet Julie '7, 1927. 1,631,183

ull/11111010 14010,

Patented June 7, 1927.

1,631,183 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH IRWIN ALEXANDER, or KANKAKEE) Aim ALFRED it, an on, or onions-o HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNURS TO INLAND mien-tannins coiasAnY, or onioaeo, rumors, a CORPORATION or rumors.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOBILE IvIACHiIl'ERY.

Original application filed November '24, 1924, Serial No. 752,017. Divided and this application filed July This invention relates to traction equip ment for heavy mobile machinery, and more particularly to an improved supporting and ltlachines of this type usually comprise apivoted boom, centrally mounted at thefront end of the carriage :tor supporting and con trolling the bucket or other lifting apparatusfand a. lifting winch and a power plant (usually steam operated) upon the :entral and rear portions of the carriage. Such macl nes are usually mounted upon a modified railway carriage, it being necessary to lay trach sections in front or behind the carriage whenever it ismoved in either direction. Jack arms extend laterally outwardly and downwardly,from the front end of the carriage, and jack screws carried by these arl'ns are screwed down into contact with the ground or other supporting surface when the machine is in operation, to steady the machine and to take a par-tor all of the weight ot this end of the apparatus from the car trucks and track. Such machineshave also been mounted on creeping traction drivin means of the endlesschain type, but such apparatus is cin'nplicated and expensive and the large supporting areais unnecessary when the machinesare to be operatcd in stone quarries, or other places where the supporting terrain is fairly firm and substantial; l

In the parent application, Serial No. 752,-

017, referred to hereii'iabove, We have dissod a machine of this gene all type 111' cl which the carriage is i'i'ioiinted ipoli large, broad face supporting wheels, which pro ect well beyond the sides of the carriage frame,

and serve not only as supporting and'trans porting means, but also perform the functions of the screw jacks previously mentioned, to brace the machine atthe sides, when in service. These wheels have sullicient supporting area to'carry the tremendous weight Serial No. 46,458.

stone quarry, and will also transport the machine easily over extremely uneven surfaces. tziomewhat similar, but smaller, wheels are so mounted at the rear oi the carriage. that the machine may be steered thereby. The present invention relates particularly to that portion of the carriage and its supporting means whereby the Ci. 'riage is steered.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved steering assembly herein t bove described.

rrnother object is to provide a steering i 'iechanism of this typewhich is power driven from the same power plant which is used to operate the lifting mechanism of the machine, and also to drive the front traction wheels when the machine is being trans ported.

Another object is to provide such a steering mechanism with means whereby it may be conveniently controlled by the operator trom his position at the front of the carriage.

Another object is to provide improved means for pivotally mounting the carriage on the steering wheels, whereby the wheels may be swung horizontally to steer the carriage, and. may also swing or rock in a vertical plane to facilitate passage over uneven grounch Another mechanism object is to for swinging ly to steer the carriage.

Another object is to provide improved means for strengthening and bracing thecarriage trame, to withstand the side thrusts and twisting strains of the wheel mountings and the power driven steering apparatus.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the carriage, or chassis, with the siiiper-structure removed.

Fig. :2 is a side elevation partially broken provide improved the wl'ieels lateralaway, of the central and rear portions of the carriage and supporting means.

Fig. 3 IS a transverse vertical section on a somewhat larger scale, taken substantially of the n'iachine above the rocky floor ofaon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

adapted for massive machinery of the type Fig. t is a transverse vertical section, on a still larger scale, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The carriage frame comprises, preferably, a plurality of longitudinally extending I- beains, 1, 2, 3, and l, which are connected at their front ends by a cross-beam 5, and at their rear ends by a cross-beam 6. There are other transverse bracing members etween these beams, some of which will be referred to in detail hereinafter. lVhen this carriage is used as the support for a steam shovel, the boom and other lifting mechanism Wlll be mounted above the front end 5 of the car riage. The remainder of the carriage will carry the lifting winch,- the power plant, and the fuel bins and other accessories. It should be understood at the outset that these machines are r\ comely nrassive and heavy, often weighing considerably more than a hundred tons, that ordinary carriage constructions .annot be used, due to the impracticability of constructing the ordinary carriage parts of sufficient size and strength to carry the enormous load, and withstand the side thrusts and tilting strains.

The front end of the arriage, where the greater portion of the weight is concentrated is carried upon a pair of large, broad-faced metal traction wheels 7. These wheels,

which have a wide spread or tread not only perform the function of the jack-arms heretofore employed, but also serve as the driving traction means for moving the apparatus from place to place. These wheels 7 are mounted upon a pair of jack-arm's 8 which extend outwardly nd downwardly f-r in the side carriage beams 1 and 1. Suitable means (not here shown in detail) are used for tying together the two jack-arms 8, and distributing the load from these arms between the several beams 1, 2, 3 and t t. At 9 is shown a large gear on the windingdrum driving mechanism, which will be driven from the power plant on the carriage in the usual manner. The traction wheels 7 are driven from gear 9 through a train of reduction gearing 10, 1.1, 12, 13, ll, 15 and 16. This train of driving gears may be thrown into or out of operation by means of the clutch 17 which connects gear 10 to its shaft .18. All of the above is substantially set forth in greater detail, and claimed, in our c pen-ding application, Serial N 0. 752,012, referred to hereinabove.

If L ticularly to the mechanism for supporting, strengthening and guiding the rear or steering end of the carriage, and to the power driven connections for driving this steering mechanism. At the rear of the carriage, (or at an intermediate position if the load is he present invention relates more pan.

concentrated near the forward end, as in a steam shovel), a broad flat supporting plate 19 is secured beneath the carriage beams 1, 2, 3 and f. A swivel casting 20 is secured centrally beneath this plate 19. This casting comprises a horizontal flange 21, which is bolted to the plate 19, and a downwardly projecting hollow cylindrical portion 22. A swivel-head 23 is held within this casting 20, so that it may rotate about a central vertical af-zis. Head 23 comprises a'main cylindrical portion 2% fitting closely within the sleeve 22 of casting 20, and an upper outwardly isle-red flange .25 which fits an annular groove or recess between the upper portion of casting 20 and the plate 19'. The lower end of head 23 is split or forked to provide a pair of spaced downwardly projecting arms 27, bet een which is a recess 28 for receiving the central rectangular portion of the rear axle 30. The lower S3113?" face of head 23 between the arms 27 is curved, :as at 31, to provide a supporting surface for the flat upper portion 32 of axle 30. A horizontal belt or pivot pin 33 extends centrally through the arms and portion 29 of axle 30, and serv to hold the axle centered against edgewise movement. The greater portion of the load, however, transmitted from the carriage to the axle 30 through the contacting surfaces 31 and 32, and is not carried by the pivot bolt 33, which may have a loose fit in the arms 27 and axle 30. it will be noted that the axle and steering wheel assembly is peri'nitted a limited rocking movement in a vertical plane about the axis of bolt 33, a certain amount of slippage taking place between the supporting surfaces 31 and 32 to permit this movement. The axle assembly pivots about the central vertical axis of castings 20 and 23 for steering the wheels, as hereinafter described.

Each end of the axle 30 is formed as a journal 3%, on which is mount-ed one of the large broad spaced metal steering wheels a bearing sleeve 35, of suitable bearing metal, being interposed between the journal 34 and the hub of wheel The whee J 35 are held in place in any suitalile manner, as by 'li'lflililS of nuts 37. hose steeing wheels 35 may be placed closer together t-l in the front traction wheels .7, so that the length of axle 30 need not be excessive, and the weight to be supported at the rear end of the carriage (which is not as great as at the front end) can be satisfactorily supported by such a centrally pivoted axle.

A cross shaft 38, the central portion of which is tl'ireaded, at 39, is mounted in bearings 40, secured to the lower sides of frame beams l, 2, 3 and 4. This transverse shaft 38 is mounted beneath an intermediate portion of the carriage frame, somewhat in advance of the rear axle 30, as shown in ltd) Figs. 1 and 2. A nut 41 is movable along and lower sides of nut 41, there being bosses,

or projections 46 on this nut 41 which engage in slots or grooves in the arms 45. This connection compels the rod 43 to share the transverse movement of nut 41, and simultaneously permits the nut 41 to move longitudinallythrough the forked end of rod 43, since this rod'moves in an arc, whereas the nut 41 travels in a straight line. The rear end of central rod 43 is pivotally connected at 47 with an eye on the front end of pivot pin 33. The side links 42 and 44 are secured at their front-ends 48 to the enlarged forward end of central rod 43, and their rear ends are hooked, as at 49, to engage the eyes of U-bolts 50, secured in the rear axle 30.

A pair of oppositely facing beveled gears 51 and 52 are mounted loosely on shaft 38 between the bearings suspended from beams 1 and 2. A beveled gear. 53 on longitudinally extending drive shaft 54 meshes with the beveled gears 51 and 52 and drives them simultaneously in opposite directions. By means of an intermediate clutch 55,

keyed to shaft 88, either gear 51 or 52may be clutched to this shaft to rotate the screw shaft in one direction or the other, as desired. In mechanisms of this type, heretofore in use, this power driven steering mechanism has been actuated by a separate driving unit, such asa motor or donkey engine. In the present improved construction, this steering mechanism is actuated from the same driving means which actuates the winch and the traction wheels, as previously described. The drive shaft 54 is driven from main driving gear 9 through the gear 56 loosely mounted on the intermediate shaft 57, and the beveled gears 58 and 59 keyed to shafts 57 and 54, respectively. By means of clutch 60, gear 56 may be keyedto intermediate shaft 5? whenever desired. Reversing clutch is actuated from the longitudinally extending rock shaft 61 by means of the crank arm 62 projecting downwardly from the rear end of rock shaft 61 and having a forked lower end 63 engaging with the clutch member 55. Power clutch is actuated from the tubular rock shaft 64, which surrounds rock shaft 61, by means of down wardly extending crank arm 65 secured to the rear end of tubular shaft 64, and an intermediate link 66 and lever 67. Lever 67 is connected at one end with the clutch member 60, is intermediately pivoted at 68 on a bracket 69 projecting from beam 2, and its other end is connected through link 66 with the lower end of crank arm 65. Rock shafts 61 and 64 are controlled from the front of the machine, where the operator will be positioned, by means of the conveniently located hand levers 70 and 71, respectively. When it is desired to shift the steering wheels in either direction, the operator manipulates lever 70 to determine the direction of travel of nut 41, and then manipulates lever 71 to throw on the power. This shift ing of the steering wheels may be accomplished either while the traction wheels 7 are being driven to move the carriage, or while the carriage is otherwise at rest. This will be determined by whether or not power clutch 17 is in operative or inoperative position. Of course, while the winch is being driven to operate the lifting mechanism for the bucket, both clutches 17 and 60 will be out of engagement with the respective gears 10 and 56, and the traction and steering mechanisms will be at rest.

In order to distribute the side thrustsof screw shaft 38 between the several frame beams 1, 2, 3 and 4, we have devised the improved crossbrace construction now to be described. A spreader sleeve 72 keyed to the shaft as at 73 bears at its ends, through thr st washers 74 against the adjacent bearin s 44) to impact the 'iZlUTUStS to one or the other of these hearings according to the direction in which the steering mechanism is being driven. Between the several means 1, 2, 3 and 4 are positioned a series of properly shaped plates 7 and '76 having angle flanges 77 riveted. or bolted thereto and to therespective frame beams. One or more tie-bolts 78 are secured through the several beams 1, 2, 3 and 4, and through the angle flanges T7 of the several intermediate brace plates 7 5 and 76, which are positioned end to end between the several means. This bolt 78 (if only one is used) is preferably placed nearer the lower edges of the frame means, where the spreading force of the screw shaft 38 concentrated. If desired, one or more additional tie-bolts 7 9 may be secured through the frame beams at a position spaced laterally from bolt '76. and at the other side of the plates and T6, to resist forces tending to buckle the means. In this way, the thrust of shaft 38, when transmit ted to one of the bearings 40, will be dis tributed evenly between the several fraane beams 1., 2, 3 and 4.

Preferably the shaft 54 will be divided at some intermediate point, and the sections connected by a coupling sleeve 80, permanently secured to one shaft section, and connected with the other section by means of a frangible pin 81 which will break under undue stress to avoid injury to other portions of the steering mechanism.

Although certain preferred forms of the several features of this invention have been disclosed in the preceding specification, and accompanying drawings, it is obvious that Liv many changes in proportions and design In ht be adopted, :and equivalents might be We claim:

1. in traction equipment for heavy mobile niachinr-n v, the combination with a carriage l a supporting 1 1111116, a pair of (f 'iving wheels at one end thereof and a pair of steering wheels at the other end thereof a power plant suppo ted on the carriage and driving mechanism for the first mentioned wheels operated from the power plant, of steering mechanism for the steering wheels, and means power-driven from the carriage driving mechanism for operating the ing mechanism comprising a pmverclutch, and reversing;- gearine' including a reversing clutch, and manually ope able trolling mechanism opera iilc from within the carriage including a pair of nested roclc shafts, a controllirur lever at. one end of each shaft, the two levers ext-ending into the car-- riage at adjacent positions, a rd lever connections from the opposite ends of each shaft to the respective clutches.

In t action equi machinery, the nibination with a carria 'e including supporting f ing wheels one end the or a -i of steering wheels at the ct er end the of; a

;e, nd io e: l plant said i d on the carria mechanism for the first operated from the power mechanism including a drivino' clutch, of steering mechanism for the wheels comprising) a tran verse screw-snort mounted power plant supper drivii in the carr age f it =2 a nut on the shaft, connectio'mi between the nut and the steerclutclrcon out for heavy mobile a pair of driving Wheelsat one end thereof and a pair of steering wheels at the other end thereof, of steering mechanism c01nprising a screw-shaft mounted transversely beneath the *arriage frame, a plura ity of leari gs for the shaft supported by the re* spective frame beams, a tubular thrust collar or spreader surrounding the shaft between two of these bearings, reversible driving gear connections mounted on the shaft between a second pair of bearings a nut mounted on the threaded portion of the shaft between another pair of bearings, and connections between the nut and the steering wheels.

In traction equipment; for heavy mobile machinery,,the combination with a carriage formed of a plurality of spaced metal beams, a pair of driving wheels at one end thereof and a pair of steering wheels at the other end thereof, of ering mechanism comprising a screw-shaft mounted. transversely beneath the carriage frame a plurality of sari r the shaft supported by the respective ame beam-* a tubular collar or rem r surrounding the shaft between two of these hearings, reversible drivii'ig gear connections umunted on the shaft between a second pair of bearings, a nut mounted on the threaded. portion of the shaft between another pair of bGiIl S a1 'Tl connections between the nut and the steeri wheels, and a transversely arranged series tlai d thrust plates positio red in line between the several frame beams scent the screw shaft and lie-bolts secured tnnsversely through the several beams and plate flang' i In traction eruiipment for heav 1 mobile resisting wall consisting of a scrirs of flanged plates positioned end to end iTflilSYtTSQlf l)t)- tween the eral leamst a ]')lurality of aligned bearings suspended from the several beams beniath the transverse wall, a screw shaft mounted in the bearin "thrust collar secured on the shaft be two of the bearings, and a tie-bolt secajlred versely through the several beams near lower edges thereof, and :uiljacent the flanged plates and the bearings.

RAQLPH 1. ALEXANDER. ALFRED H. ELTON. 

